However, there are no half measures when it comes to bringing in some of the best young talent around, who all have a real prospect of
breaking into the first team.

That was ably demonstrated at Hampden Park last weekend when Academy graduates Darren Barr, Tam Scobbie, Scott Arfield and Mark Stewart played in the Scottish Cup final.

Captain Barr has also won full international honours for Scotland, while Scobbie and Arfield are well established in the U21 squad – the former going on to claim a B cap for the national side this year.

And playing for your country as well as Falkirk is quickly becoming the norm among those who successfully move through the ranks of the club's youth system.

Their latest recruit is defender James Bloom, who turns 18 in August.

He has signed from Cardiff City, a Championship club that has nurtured young talent such as Robert Earnshaw, Ross Gunter and Joe Ledley into regular players for the full Welsh side.

Bloom has already been capped at U17 and U19 level and was fast-tracked into the U21s earlier this year as the second youngest in the squad.

Previously at Swansea City, he joined the Bluebirds' Academy two years ago and developed into a player many tipped would soon break into the first team.

Equally comfortable at left back or centre back, Bloom instead decided to move to Falkirk on a two-year deal and is firmly setting his sights on starring in the SPL.

"First and foremost, I want to be playing with the under-19s as much as possible, but I'll be working hard to get into the first team too," he told Heraldsport.

"I enjoyed my time at Cardiff, where I did my scholarship and played for the U18s as well as the reserves, and there were options to go elsewhere.

"However, I was advised that Falkirk was a very good club when it comes to the younger players breaking through and I want to do the same.

"I spent a week here on trial and was impressed with the style of passing football as well as the other players, who spoke very highly of the club. I felt that I could definitely move forward with Falkirk and that's what convinced me to sign."

Academy spokesman Ross Wilson revealed that they had fought off strong competition from a number of other clubs all vying for Bloom's signature, and was thrilled he chose to move to Scotland last week.

He is the second new face to join Falkirk in recent weeks following the capture of 17-year-old midfielder Sean Fraser, a former captain at Reading FC's Academy, who put pen to paper and moved from Coventry City on a one-year deal.

"We're always trying to secure the best young talent and, along with Sean Fraser, this latest signing shows that we can compete with many other clubs to do just that," said Ross.

"They will both be involved from next season and we firmly believe, with hard work and dedication, they can make a real impression at Falkirk.

"And we wouldn't be signing them anyway if we didn't think they had exactly what it takes to make it all the way into the first team."